Perch Fishing Lake Erie; Strategies
Perch Fishing Lake Erie is a fantastic way to spend time with your family, teach a novice the basics of fishing, and even enjoyable for the most experienced fisherman. Perch are a very popular game fish that are generally easy to catch on a variety of bait and fishing tactics. They are very good eating, and school in the hundreds. This means if you catch one, there are almost always a limit laying below you. Perch fishing Lake Erie is a terrific way to fill your freezer and make countless memories to last forever. Epic Walleye values this fish and has shared some great ways to target these animals.
Fishing from the Pier
Perch fisherman can be found in the early spring to mid-summer fishing the piers in Presque Isle Bay. Follow the crowd and you will find where the perch are that day. There is one widespread practice among the pier fisherman, and that is fishing a crappie rig with emerald shiners.
This method of fishing perch is extremely effective in the bay. You simply tie on a crappie rig, attach a 1-ounce weight to the bottom, and bait your hooks with emerald shiners. You can either cast your line out as far as you can, or drop it to the bottom in front of you. The perch are very aggressive so watch your rod for a nibble and set the hook.
Here is what I like to use to harvest these fish:
Eagle Claw Crappie Rig
The Eagle Claw Crappie Rig is a great system to use. However, I like to change out the hooks in the package with sharper hooks such as Daiichi D11Z 8/0 Octopus Circle Fishing Hook. These hooks are sharper and can set the hook in the perch’s mouth easier. This means less fish lost and more in your freezer.
3/4 oz. ROUND FLAT SINKER
For the weight, I like to use a ¾ ounce round flat sinker. This weight has a wire eye at the top of it, which can be easily snapped onto the crappier rig. The weight ranges can vary depending on how deep you fish, and how far you need to cast. Have an abundance of these weights because you will get snagged on bottom. Since the sinker is round and flat, it catches bottom well, and prevents your bait from floating in the current, but they do occasionally get snagged.
This rig works, and you will see many others having the same set-up as you. Set this up on your line and perch are only a cast away. Pier perch fishing Lake Erie is a wonderful way to catch bucket loads of jack perch.
Fishing from the Boat
Perch Fishing Lake Erie from a boat is an effective way to target perch. They can be caught in the bay, or out in the actual lake. Using a boat, can get you on top of the moving school and can keep you in the fish longer.
For this method, drive slow and turn on your fish finder (click here to learn about the best fish finder, GPS Combo for under $1000). You are looking for heavy marks that cover the screen and are suspended. This will generally be a giant school of perch.
Once the fish are marked, use the same tactics as you would from fishing from the pier. However, most generally the fish in the lake are suspended. Fish vertically down on from the boat and drop your bait all the way to bottom. This will give you an initial point to adjust your line. After you have reached bottom, reel your bait a few cranks off bottom. This will suspend your bait in the regions that the perch are located. Feeling a bite will be easier when fishing off bottom. You will feel a more distinct bite. Once the bait has been taken, set the hook and reel in your catch.
Summary
A few tips, check your bait often. Perch are ninjas in the water, they will rob your hooks of their bait and you will not even realize they did. If they are not hitting your bait, try slowly jigging your rod. Sometimes they need some action on the bait before they will hit.
Perch Fishing Lake Erie can produce some of the biggest perch you have ever caught. The perch will be larger in the early spring, than they will be in mid-summer. This is because they are full of eggs. Use these tactics in the article and you will catch fish, also remember they are great eating and fun to catch. When you are finished targeting these fish click here to learn how to target walleye.
